While the opioid epidemic garners more headlines, stimulant use has seen a resurgence, particularly in the last ten years, as stronger and cheaper drugs have made their way into the illegal drug market. Stimulants are dangerous and highly addictive, wreaking havoc on the lives of users and their families on a much shorter timetable than other substances. Creative Care’s dual diagnosis program is a safe, support environment in which individuals can learn to overcome their stimulant use disorder as well as the co-occurring mental health issues undergirding them. To learn more about our residential dual diagnosis program, call us today.
Stimulant use disorder is a mental health condition in which an individual continues to use stimulants despite the negative effects they’ve had on their lives. Stimulants are any type of psychoactive drug that act on the central nervous system and increase its activity. They include prescription medications like Ritalin and Adderall, and illegal drugs like meth, cocaine, and MDMA.
These drugs cause an intense rush with feelings of euphoria, followed by an often-debilitating crash as those effects wear off. Individuals struggling with stimulant use disorder often lose control of their ability to moderate their stimulant use and become physically dependent upon them.
The following list includes signs of stimulant intoxication and problematic behavior relating to their use:
- Dilated pupils
- Grinding teeth
- Rapid weight loss
- Erratic sleep patterns
- Extreme mood swings
- Problems at work, school, or in relationships caused by stimulant use
- Continuing to use stimulants despite these problems
- Paranoia
- Psychotic episodes
Like most mental health conditions, research points to genetic and environmental factors in the development of stimulant use disorder. Stimulant use also develops in high school and college as students use drugs like Adderall to help them focus and get through an all-nighter. Other people begin using them for their weight-loss properties. Co-occurring mental health conditions are also major risk factors for stimulant use disorder. Finally, many individuals suffering from stimulant use disorder have experienced some type of trauma, particularly during childhood.
Stimulant use disorder is a treatable mental health condition. Cognitive and behavioral therapies like CBT are helpful in helping individuals to recognize the situations and events that trigger their problematic stimulant use. As the individual becomes aware of these and the behaviors that result from them, they can begin to develop alternative coping strategies. For individuals suffering from a co-occurring mental health disorder, dual diagnosis treatment is an effective method of attending to both conditions simultaneously.
Creative Care has over 30 years of experience helping individuals manage and overcome co-occurring substance use conditions like opioid use disorder. For compassionate, innovative treatment, call Creative Care today.